Singaporeans mourn former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

Yesterday, the 77-year-old was among more than 8,000 people who made the trip to Tanjong Pagar Community Club (TPCC) to pay their respects to Mr Lee, who had represented Tanjong Pagar for 60 years, since 1955. TPCC is one of 18 community sites where the public can pay their respects.

Release from jail was a defining moment for Mr Wan Daud - it was then that he decided to follow Mr Lee, he said yesterday.

He later became the chairman of Malay affairs at the PAP Siglap branch committee and remains a party member.

He said: "I decided that I would follow Mr Lee, and as long as the (People's Action Party) keeps its promises, I will serve the PAP to the best that I can. And it has kept its promises: to educate the people, to house the people, and to unite them, not divided across racial lines."

Another person at the community club whose life was changed by Mr Lee was Mr Tan Hai Yan.

The 61-year-old was just 11 years old when he first heard Mr Lee shout "Merdeka" (Malay for independence) at a rally his parents took him to.

In a fitting tribute yesterday, Mr Tan pumped his fist and shouted "Merdeka" at the top of his lungs, in front of a portrait of Mr Lee.

He told The Straits Times in Mandarin: "Till today, seeing him shout the word on television makes me emotional."

yanliang@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 25, 2015. Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.